Friday, September 30, 2011

Happy Opening Weekend!! Is anyone else a hunter's widow like me?? At least I have Easton to keep me company these days. :)

So, not publicizing my weekend plans for the past few weeks has made me realize I'm a lot less productive when nobody is expecting anything from me (except my husband, of course - which really doesn't make me all that motivated). I am much more productive when I know others are watching reading and I have to show my results in the end. So here I am, back to weekend planning! Here's to hoping I'm productive. I'd like to have something to show for when Bryan returns from a weekend away.Friday

Work

Hit up some garage sales on my way home

Laundry

Relax

Saturday

Mom-to-Mom Sale with mom

Spend the day with mom being productive and getting things done around the house -- it's much more fun doing stuff when you have someone to do it with. :)

Quick trip to the grocery store for stuff to make for dinner

Host October birthdays (mine and Jillybean's) dinner with the ladies -- no worries Tara, we'll toast to your birthday too!

Sunday

Meal plan

Grocery shop

Clean

Spend quality time with Easton while something cooks in the crock pot waiting for Bryan to get home

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a friend. I am a wife. I am a mom -- a working mom.

I returned to work part-time when Easton was just 8 weeks old. I did this after much discussion with my mom, who helped me realize that it was in both mine and Easton's best interest to return to work part-time and extend my maternity leave for as long as possible. Going back part-time after 8 weeks, allowed me 10 additional weeks of part-time, opposed to only 4 more full weeks off before returning full-time. I suppose it made sense. After all, mother knows best, right? Right! I will admit this was the best decision I could have made. Not only was it nice being part-time for the entire summer, but it helped make my transition to full-time so much easier.

Being a working mom is no easy task. Thankfully I love my job and work with an awesome group of people who making going to work everyday easier. But I truly think people underestimate the title 'working mom'. Not only do I work 40 hours a week, but I am a full-time mom, cleaning lady, cook, banker, grocery shopper, and laundromat, aside from a gazillion other things. Not to mention, Bryan took a new job the same week I went back to work full-time and this new job is pretty demanding of his time. He went from working 9am-3pm to working 7am-7pm, therefore I can no longer rely on Bryan to be home for dinner, let alone to pick up Easton from daycare, etc. I often stress over the fact that I don't have time to get anything done around the house after work - the laundry piles high, and furballs dance around the woodfloors when you walk by. And the dinner thing is an issue in itself. I have been slacking in the kitchen due to the fact that I never know when Bryan will be home and I'm not motivated to think of what to make for myself, let alone take the time away from Easton to make an entire meal. So cereal, soup, grilled cheese -- anything quick n' easy -- it is!

Today, I stayed home with Easton. And today, I took on a whole new appreciation for 'stay-at-home' moms. I don't want to say that I've underestimated those who choose to stay at home, but I really think I have. I had big plans for my day off today, but big plans were not accomplished. Our day started off with a trip to the doctor's office which was a waste of time, but at least my mind is at ease that Easton just has a cold and it's nothing more. While I was out, I ran down to Babies R Us, which is inconveniently located from our house so I don't make it out there often. I've had a few things to knock off my to-do list there, so I figured it'd cross it off the list while I was already halfway there. During my 'day in the life of a stay-at-home-mom', I wanted to be productive. I wanted to dust and vacuum, clean bathrooms, do laundry, make baby food, make dinner, pull out fall/Halloween decor, and as much as I hate to admit it, the only things I checked off this list were scrubbing one toilet, making baby food and making dinner. I don't know how stay-at-home-mom's get anything productive accomplished. The second I attempted to do something, Easton was fussing for attention. Now I need to remember that he does have a cold and was therefore more fussy than usual, but still.

A 'stay-at-home-mom' is everything a 'working mom' is, minus the 40 hours at the office, but in turn, they are a full-time daycare, which makes it just as hard to be successful at those other duties because their main responsibility is tending to the peanut gallery. Perhaps it comes more natural to others, or it just takes a little getting used to juggling that type of lifestyle and getting into a routine, but after just one day in the life of a stay-at-home-mom, I'm ready to go back to work! I think people have higher expectations for a stay-at-home-mom to have a clean house, empty laundry hampers and dinner on the table, but it's really not that easy, and after just one day, I get it. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my son and I miss him every second while I'm at work, but I have to admit that it's kinda nice going to work everyday and being able to be productive, get things accomplished, check things off my list, and then come home to play the role of mom. And heck, if the laundry doesn't get done today, it's ok. My responsibility after putting in 40 hours at the office is to spend time with Easton -- to play with him, sing and dance, make silly faces and make memories that I can take with me back to the office each day. :) The cleaning can wait!

To all those working moms out there, good for you! And for those moms who stay-at-home, good for you! I think in an ideal world, my happy medium would be part-time. Hopefully someday! Until then, I shall resume my life as a working mom. To each their own, but bottom line, MOMS RULE!!

And with that said, I'll leave you with a photo of my precious family. (the background on my computer at work that I stare at all day)

Sunday, September 18, 2011

I don’t know where the time goes. But 5 months have come and went and all I know is that it’s been the best 5 months of my life.

We started you on solids this month and to no surprise, you love them! We can’t get the spoon in your mouth fast enough and you are not happy unless the spoon is in constant motion. So far, you have had sweet potatoes, carrots and peas, apples, bananas and pears, and if I have to pick, I'd say peas are your least favorite.

You have finally gotten the hang of your jumperoo and boy, do you ever go to town in it! You bounce like crazy and think it’s hilarious. Mommy loves it too b/c it allows her to get some stuff done. Miss Dawn loaned you her Johnny Jumper and you're loving that too.

I'm starting to think that you may be beginning to teeth. You put anything and everything in our mouth, including your fist! And Sophie the giraffe is one of your best friends! Not to mention, the amount of drool you are producing these days, makes me wonder if you and Cooper are related. :)

You are rolling like crazy these days, and use it as your mode of transportation. I put you down in one spot, but come back only to find you facing a completely different direction on the other side of the room. I swear it wont' be long before you're crawling.

On another note, you have mastered sitting on your own! It started with the tripod stance and at times we surround you with pillows for when you lose balance, but overall, you do very well and enjoy playing with your toys from a new position.

Likes

Your toes

Bathtime

Sweet potatoes and bananas are your favorite

Grandma - you know who she is and smile at the sound of her voice

Your jumperoo

Sophie the giraffe

Rolling all over the place!

You are starting to warm up to Cooper

Dislikes (you are making me really have to think about these!)

Peas

And your 5 month photo shoot:

I may be biased, but you are honestly the best baby ever! You make daddy and I so happy and proud to call you ours.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

I was a freshman in college. My roommate and best friend, Tara and I were in the cafeteria eating breakfast, when we returned to our dorm and had numerous missed calls. I remember thinking "Is everything OK?". A gazillion things ran through my mind of what could possibly be wrong. Tara returned her mom's call - she sounded frantic and was so glad to hear from Tara. She told us to turn on the tv. Little did we know that what we were about to see would change our lives, and the world, forever.

We turned on the tv just in time to see the plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center. I was in completely and utter shock -- this was NOT what I had expected to see. Classes were cancelled and we spent the rest of the day curled up on the futon, glued to the television, watching the attack on America unfold before us.

Today, we remember those who lost their lives on that day. We pray for the victims, the policemen, firefighters, friends and families touched by this awful chain of events. We pray for the men and women fighting for our country. And I pray that my son will never, ever have to witness such tragedy. I pray that his world will be so much better, and safer, than ours.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

So once again, it's Wordless Wednesday, and I'm not Wordless. I'm a Wordless Wednesday failure. Not to mention, it's Wednesday, and I'm just recapping my weekend. I'm a Weekend Planning/Recap failure.

"I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate." -George Burns

Friday

Secretary of State to get a new driver's license - I hate that place!! Never a quick trip, but my license expires on my birthday so this was a must!

Work

Dinner and drinks with the ladies of Mallard Court :) - Newly named "The Real Housewives of Mallard Court". We had a blast. I am so lucky to have such awesome and fun neighbors.

Saturday

Perhaps a little garage saling - I didn't get much, but Jennie made out pretty good in the baby department. :)

Quick clean - I am so unmotivated to clean lately. I wish I could afford a cleaning lady!

Watch the Michigan game - Easton is ready!!

Dinner at Coll's with the family

Sunday

Family birthday party - Bryan ended up having to work, so it was just me and E.

Shopping at Howell Outlets - Carter's was having a 50% off sale so I treated Easton to a few new things for the fall/winter/holidays.

Meal plan/Grocery shop - It's a short , busy week so we'll make do with what's in the house.

Relax with my boys :) - Never happens -- I should know better than to plan on it happening.

Bonfire with the neighbors

Monday

Cedar Point plans (with the girls) are in the works!! - Highlight of my weekend. Nice little day with Jillybean and we had a BLAST! And the best news is that Bryan survived 12+ hours of daddy duty!!! :)

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About Me

Life is good! I'm married to an amazingly handsome man who makes me smile and together we have a happy-go-lucky yellow lab and an absolutely adorable, giggly baby boy. We love life, are huge sports fans and enjoy spending time with our friends and family here in SE Michigan. Follow me as I share my journey through life as a working mom who enjoys cooking, crafts and all that life has to offer!